March 22 - The Trinity - John 14
Reflection Questions
When you think about God, do you naturally picture Him as relational (Father, Son, Spirit) or more distant and abstract? Why?
In what ways have you perhaps misunderstood or underemphasized the Trinity in your faith?
Jesus said, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” What does that reveal to you about God’s character?
How does knowing that God has always existed in a loving relationship (Father, Son, Spirit) change your understanding of love?
Do you ever feel distant from God? How does the truth of the Trinity speak into that feeling?
How does understanding the Trinity change the way we relate to God?
How can we better explain the Trinity to someone who finds it confusing or rejects it?
How does the work of salvation involve all three persons of the Trinity?
How does the Trinity deepen our understanding of God’s love demonstrated at the cross?
Supporting Scriptures from the Sermon
Key Teaching Texts
John 14:8–17
John 14:10
John 1:1
On the Unity and Nature of God
Deuteronomy 6:4–5
John 10:30
On the Trinity (Father, Son, Spirit as God)
Philippians 1:2
Titus 2:13
Acts 5:3–4
On the Relationship Within the Trinity
John 17 (especially 17:24–26)
John 15 (Spirit glorifying Jesus)
John 3:35
John 5:20
John 14:31
John 4:34
Matthew 3:16-17
On Love and the Nature of God
1 John 4:7–9
1 John 3:1
1 John 3:16
On the Holy Spirit and Our Relationship with God
Romans 5:5
Romans 8:15
Galatians 4:6
PRAYER FROM JOHN STOTT:
Good morning heavenly Father,
good morning Lord Jesus,
good morning Holy Spirit.
Heavenly Father, I worship you as the creator and sustainer of the universe.
Lord Jesus, I worship you, Savior and Lord of the world.
Holy Spirit, I worship you, sanctifier of the people of God.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Heavenly Father, I pray that I may live this day in your presence
and please you more and more.
Lord Jesus, I pray that this day I may take up my cross and follow you.
Holy Spirit, I pray that this day you will fill me with yourself and cause your fruit to ripen in my life:
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Holy, blessed and glorious Trinity, three persons in one God,
have mercy upon me. Amen.
March 15 - The Good Shepherd - John 10
Reflection Questions
1. Recognizing Our Need for a Shepherd
Why do you think the Bible often compares people to sheep?
In what areas of your life do you see your own tendency to “wander” or try to live independently from God?
2. Hearing the Shepherd’s Voice
Jesus says His sheep know His voice. What practices help you recognize and respond to Jesus’ voice in your life?
What “other voices” (culture, fear, success, opinions of others) compete with the voice of the Shepherd?
3. The Intimacy of Being Known by Jesus
Jesus says He knows His sheep just as He knows the Father. What does it mean to you that Jesus knows you that deeply?
Is it comforting or challenging to know that God fully knows your past, present, and future?
4. Jesus as the Only Way
How does the image of Jesus as the door of the sheepfold help you understand His statement that He is the only way to the Father?
How does the fact that Jesus laid down His life change the way we understand the exclusivity of His claim?
5. Following Instead of Striving
In John 10, the shepherd leads and the sheep respond. What does this teach us about the difference between following Jesus and trying to earn God’s approval?
6. Identity and Value
“A sheep’s value is not found in their abilities, but in their shepherd.”
Where do you usually look for your sense of worth or identity?
7. Surrendering What We Have
What gifts, abilities, or resources in your life might God be asking you to place into the hands of the Good Shepherd?
How might God transform those things to bless others?
8. Responding to the Good Shepherd
If the invitation of Jesus is simply “listen to my voice and follow me,” what might that look like practically for you this week?
Supporting Scriptures from the Sermon
Sheep and Humanity’s Tendency to Wander
Isaiah 53:6
Jeremiah 50:6
1 Peter 2:25
Psalm 119:176
Matthew 18:12
The Good Shepherd Teaching
John 10:1–6
John 10:7–10
John 10:11–18
Knowing and Being Known by God
Psalm 139:15–16
Jesus as the Only Way
John 14:6
God’s Self-Sufficiency
Acts 17:24–25
Colossians 1:16–17
The Foundation of Our Value
Romans 5:8
March 8 - Living Water - John 7
Reflection Questions
Spiritual Thirst
- Why do you think Jesus uses the imagery of thirst and water to describe spiritual life?
- In what ways do people today try to satisfy their spiritual thirst apart from God?
- Have you ever experienced a sense of spiritual thirst in your life? What did it feel like?
Living Water and the Holy Spirit
- In what ways have you seen the Holy Spirit change or shape your life?
- How can you become more aware of the presence and guidance of the Holy Spirit in your daily life?
Staying in The "River"
- What practices help you stay “in the river” of the Spirit’s life?
- What is one step you could take this week to deepen your relationship with God?
Scripture Passages Referenced
- John 4:13–14 – Jesus and the Samaritan woman (water that leads to eternal life)
- Isaiah 12:3 – “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.”
- Zechariah 14:8 – Living waters flowing from Jerusalem
- Ezekiel 47:1–12 – Vision of the river flowing from the temple
- Revelation 22:1–2 – River of the water of life in the New Jerusalem
- Titus 3:4–6 – New birth and renewal through the Holy Spirit
- Philippians 1:6 – God completing the work He began
- Colossians 1:29 – Christ’s power working within
- Ephesians 3:20 – God’s power at work within us
- 2 Corinthians 3:17–18 – Being transformed by the Spirit
- Jeremiah 2:13 – Forsaking the fountain of living water
- Galatians 5 – Walk by the Spirit
- Ephesians 2:1–5 – Once dead in sin but made alive in Christ
March 1 - Miracles - John 6:1-14
Reflection Questions
Belief & Miracles
- Why do you think many people, even Christians, struggle to believe in miracles?
- How does believing in a supernatural God affect the way we pray?
The Feeding of the Five Thousand
- Why do you think Jesus tested Philip before performing the miracle?
- In what ways do we sometimes use “common sense” as a cover for fear?
Faith & Participation
- Why do you think Jesus involved the disciples in distributing the food instead of doing it alone?
- What might have been going through the disciples’ minds as they handed out food from a seemingly insufficient supply?
Scarcity vs. Trust
- What is the difference between a scarcity mindset and trusting in God’s economy?
- How can a scarcity mindset affect a church? A family? Your personal faith?
- What does it look like to say “yes” to God even when it seems impractical?
Miracles & Their Purpose
- Why does John call miracles “signs”?
- What is the danger of pursuing miracles instead of pursuing Jesus?
- Why might the persecuted pastors consider a transformed life the greatest miracle?
- What does it mean to say, like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, “God is able… but even if He does not…”?
Personal Reflection
- Where might God be asking you to take a step of faith right now?
- In your current season, do you need to trust God for provision—or to trust Him in the waiting?
Scripture Passages Referenced
- Feeding of the Five Thousand: John 6:1–29
- Gideon’s Army: Judges 7:1–8
- Manna & Meat in the Wilderness: Numbers 11:4–23
- Water to Wine: John 2:1–11
- Healing at the Pool of Bethesda: John 5:1–15
- Walls of Jericho:Joshua 6:1–20
- Elijah Prays for Rain: 1Kings 18:41–45
- “You Do Not Have Because You Do Not Ask”: James 4:2
- Faith Like a Mustard Seed: Luke 17:6
- Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego : Daniel 3:16–18
- Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh: 2 Corinthians 12:7–1
February 22 - Understanding Grace (John 5:1-15)
Reflection Questions
1. Grace Initiates Where Effort Has Failed
Where in your life do you feel stuck in a cycle of “almost” — trying, waiting, hoping, but never quite seeing change?
Have you been watching the “water” — waiting for perfect timing, better circumstances, or stronger faith — instead of recognizing that Jesus may already be near?
Where have disappointment or long-term struggle quietly reshaped your identity?
What would it look like to believe that grace moves toward you, even when you have nothing to offer?
2. Grace Confronts Before It Comforts
If Jesus asked you today, “Do you want to get well?” — what would your honest answer be?
What familiar patterns, identities, or comforts are you afraid to leave behind?
Are there excuses you have been rehearsing instead of taking a step of obedience?
What might your “Get up and walk” look like this week?
(A conversation? Confession? Boundaries? Forgiveness? Seeking help?)
3. Grace Exposes Legalism
Where are you looking with judgment instead of anticipation?
When someone takes a small step toward God, do you celebrate it — or measure it?
Have rules, preferences, or traditions ever mattered more to you than people?
In what ways might you be protecting a system instead of participating in mercy?
Do you find more joy in being right — or in seeing someone restored?
4. Grace Reveals Who Jesus Is
Who is Jesus to you — helpful teacher, moral example, miracle worker, or Lord?
When grace confronts your assumptions about Jesus, do you soften or harden?
Are you responding to what Jesus gives — or to who He is?
Is there any area of your life where you are resisting His authority while still wanting His blessings?
What would surrender to Him fully look like for you right now?
Supporting Scriptures for Further Study
Primary Passage
John 5:1–18 — The healing at the Pool of Bethesda
Grace Initiates
Psalm 34:18 — The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
Luke 19:10 — The Son of Man came to seek and save the lost
Grace Confronts & Transforms
Hebrews 12:11 — Discipline producing righteousness
John 5:6–8 — “Do you want to get well? … Get up!”
Grace Over Legalism
Micah 6:8 — Act justly, love mercy, walk humbly
Grace Reveals Jesus
John 5:17–18 — “My Father is always at his work…”
Philippians 2:6–7 — Christ’s humility and identity
Romans 5:8 — Christ died for us while we were still sinners
Matthew 13:45–46 — The pearl of great price
February 15 - Lesson on Faith (John 4:43-54)
Reflection Questions for Further Prayer and Discussion
1. Crisis and Faith
When have crisis moments in my life driven me toward God rather than away from Him?
2. Persistence in Prayer
What desires might God be shaping or refining in me through unanswered or delayed prayer?
3. Believing Before Seeing
What past experiences of God’s faithfulness can I remember to strengthen my faith today?
4. What Is My Faith In?
Am I trusting in the strength of my faith—or in the strength of Christ?
Do I sometimes blame myself when prayers aren’t answered because I think my faith is not “big enough”?
5. God’s Timing and Methods
Where has God answered my prayers differently than I expected?
How does the promise that God will ultimately redeem all things shape how I endure present suffering?
Supporting Scriptures from the Sermon
Gospel of John 4:46–54 – Healing of the royal official’s son
Gospel of John 6:1–15, 26 – Feeding of the five thousand; seeking Jesus for bread
Gospel of Matthew 16:24 – Deny yourself, take up your cross
Gospel of Matthew 13:31–32 – Faith like a mustard seed
Gospel of Luke 18:1–8 – The persistent widow
Hebrews 11:1 – Faith is the assurance of things hoped for
Book of James 4:2 – “You do not have because you do not ask.”
Psalms 77 – Remembering God’s deeds in times of distress
Genesis 50:20 – God turning what was meant for evil into good
Revelation 21:4 – God wiping every tear from every eye
February 8 - True Worshippers (John 4:1-42)
Reflection Questions for Further Prayer and Discussion
Personal Reflection
- When was the last time worship genuinely changed you—not just informed you?
- Which comes more naturally to you: worshipping in truth or worshipping in spirit? Why do you think that is?
- Are there areas where you know about God but haven’t allowed the Spirit to transform your heart?
- In what ways have you experienced the “living water” of the Holy Spirit in your own life? Where do you feel spiritually dry?
Mountains, Traditions, and Preferences
- What are some of your personal “mountains” (traditions, preferences, experiences, theological positions) that shape how you approach worship? How might some of those mountains help you worship God more fully—and how might some distract you from Him?
- Have you ever found yourself judging others’ worship practices rather than asking whether both of you are worshipping in spirit and in truth?
- What would it look like for you to “make room” for God to shake up or re-order something you hold tightly?
Supporting Scriptures from the Sermon
Primary passage
John 4:1–42 – Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well
John 4:10, 21–24 – Living water; worship in spirit and truth
Living water & the Holy Spirit
John 7:37–39 – Rivers of living water; the Spirit given to believers
John 3:6–8 – Born of the Spirit
Role and work of the Holy Spirit
Romans 11:29 – God’s calling
Romans 8:2–4 – Life in the Spirit
Romans 8:14 – Led by the Spirit
Romans 8:26 – The Spirit helps us in weakness
John 14:15–17 – The Spirit dwelling in believers
John 14:26 – The Spirit teaches and reminds
Luke 24:45–49 – Empowered by the Spirit
Acts 13:2 – The Spirit speaks
1 Corinthians 6:11 – Sanctification by the Spirit
1 Corinthians 12:1–11 – Spiritual gifts
Galatians 5:16, 22–25 – Walking by the Spirit; fruit of the Spirit
The Heart of Worship
Matthew 15:8–9 – Honoring God with lips while hearts are far away
Old Testament background (Mount Gerizim & Worship History)
Deuteronomy 11:29; 27:12 – Blessings proclaimed on Mount Gerizim
Joshua 8:33 – Israel gathered at Mount Gerizim
Ezra 4:2–3 – Samaritan rejection during temple rebuilding
February 1 - Born Again (John 3:1-21)
Reflection Questions for Further Prayer & Discussion
Faith or Insurance Policy
- How would you describe the difference between saying the right words and genuinely believing?
More Than a Golden Ticket
- Do I tend to think of Christianity primarily as a way to secure heaven, or as a life meant to be transformed now?
- How has my understanding of eternal life shaped how I live today?
Repentance and Honesty
- How do I usually respond when confronted with my own sin—defensiveness, denial, or humility?
Forgiveness and Freedom
- Are there sins or failures I still carry guilt over, even though I believe God forgives?
The Work of the Holy Spirit
- What evidence of the Spirit’s work—new desires, peace, freedom, or changed habits—can I see in my life?
- If someone looked closely at my life, what signs might they see that point to the Spirit’s work?
January 25 - Radical Jesus (John 2:13-25)
Reflection Questions for Further Prayer & Discussion
-
Where might I be tempted to confuse religious activity with genuine faith?
Are there ways I rely on rituals, church involvement, or spiritual language to quiet my conscience without allowing real heart change? -
How balanced is my faith between the vertical and the horizontal?
How well does my love for God (prayer, worship, belief) show up in my love for people (justice, mercy, generosity, forgiveness)? -
Who are “the least of these” in my life right now?
What would it look like to tangibly love and serve them in a way that reflects Jesus’ heart? -
What makes me angry—and does that anger reflect God’s heart or my own fears and preferences?
Is my anger leading me toward sacrificial love and action, or toward outrage, distance, and contempt? -
When I encounter people far from God, do I want them defeated or redeemed?
How does Jesus’ response to His enemies on the cross shape the way I respond to those who oppose or hurt me?
January 18 - Water into Wine (John 2:1-12)
Reflection Questions
Joy and Expectation
Where in your life have you been relying on “natural joys” (success, relationships, achievement, experience) to carry the weight of ultimate meaning? How has that gone?
When the Wine Runs Out
Can you identify a season when joy began to thin or fade—even though life looked full on the outside? What did that reveal about where your hope was anchored?
The Ordinary Places Jesus Shows Up
Jesus revealed his glory in an ordinary setting—a wedding. Where might Jesus be quietly at work in the ordinary spaces of your life right now?
The Sign and What It Reveals
John calls this miracle a sign. What does the sign at Cana reveal to you about who Jesus is—not just what he can do?
The Best Wine Saved for Last
Do you believe that life with Christ deepens over time rather than diminishes? How have you seen that to be true—or where do you struggle to believe it?
Joy Through the Cross
The joy Jesus offers comes through “the hour” he embraced—the cross. How does knowing that your joy is secured through Christ’s suffering shape the way you view hardship in your own life?
The Bridegroom’s Delight
Jesus is portrayed not only as Savior but as Bridegroom who delights in his people. How would your daily life change if you lived with a settled confidence that Christ truly delights in you?
Drinking from the Right Source
Where are you tempted to keep returning for joy that cannot last? What might it look like for you to “drink deeply” from the joy Jesus offers instead?
Supporting Scripture References
Primary Text
John 2:1–12 – The Wedding at Cana
Joy, Wine, and Celebration
Psalm 104:15 – Wine that gladdens the human heart
Judges 9:13 – Wine that cheers gods and men
Isaiah 55:1 – Invitation to freely receive wine and life
Psalm 16:11 – Fullness of joy in God’s presence
Jesus, Glory, and the Hour
John 2:11 – The first sign revealing Jesus’ glory
John 7:30; John 8:20 – “His hour had not yet come”
John 12:23 – “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified”
John 12:27–28 – Glory revealed through suffering
Joy Secured Through Christ
John 15:11 – Christ’s joy in us, joy made complete
Galatians 5:22 – Joy as fruit of the Spirit
Revelation 19:9 – The wedding supper of the Lamb
The Bridegroom Theme
Isaiah 62 – God rejoicing over his people as a bridegroom
Hosea 2 – Covenant love restored
Jeremiah 2 – God’s covenant relationship with Israel
Ezekiel 16 – God’s faithful love toward his bride
The Limits of Earthly Joy
Ecclesiastes 1:16–18 – Wisdom and striving as vanity
Psalm 92:12–15 – Lasting fruit and flourishing in old age
January 11 - Grace & Truth (John 1:14-18)
Reflection Questions
God’s Nearness and Holiness
How does the idea that God’s holiness is not annihilating but transformative change the way you approach Him personally?Grace That Transforms, Not Excuses
Where in your life do you need to experience grace that doesn’t just forgive, but actively transforms you?
Grace and Truth Together
Which do you find more difficult to live out—grace or truth?
Truth as a Person, Not Just a Principle
How might your conversations and relationships change if you remembered that truth is ultimately Jesus Himself, not merely correct doctrine?
Receiving “Grace Upon Grace”
Are there areas of your life where you are living as if God’s grace could run out? What would it look like to trust in His inexhaustible grace instead?
Self-Condemnation vs. God’s Verdict
If God does not remember your sins and does not condemn you, what is preventing you from fully resting in that truth?
Coming to Jesus as You Are
What burdens, guilt, or weariness do you need to bring honestly to Jesus right now, trusting both His grace and His truth?
Supporting Scripture References
God Dwelling With His People
John 1:14 – The Word became flesh and dwelt among us
Exodus 19:21–22 – Warning the people not to approach God’s holiness
Exodus 20:19 – “Do not let God speak to us, lest we die”
Exodus 40:34–35 – God’s glory filling the tabernacle
2 Chronicles 7:1–2 – God’s glory filling Solomon’s temple
God’s Presence Leaving and Returning
Ezekiel 10–11 – God’s glory departing the temple
Ezekiel 11:16–20 – God as a sanctuary for the exiles
Ezekiel 47:1–12 – River of life flowing from the temple
Jesus as the True Temple
John 2:19–21 – Jesus referring to His body as the temple
Colossians 2:9 – Fullness of deity dwelling bodily in Christ
Freedom from Condemnation
Hebrews 10:17 – God remembers sins no more
Romans 8:1 – No condemnation in Christ
1 John 3:19–20 – God greater than our condemning hearts
